Arizona road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Arizona
The best motorcycle roads in Arizona climb out of the desert: the Apache Trail to Tortilla Flat, Mt Lemmon above Tucson, Oak Creek Canyon into Flagstaff, Jerome and Mingus Mountain, the Mogollon Rim, Salt River Canyon and Route 66 over Sitgreaves Pass. Here are 15 classics, with the region, why each is worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 15
- Regions
- 4
- In the app now
- Tortilla Flat
- Check before you go
- az511.com
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Arizona
Arizona roads are less about one perfect canyon and more about elevation. Almost every great ride here starts hot and low, then climbs into cooler air and better views. So season matters as much as the road. A desert road that is perfect in February can be dangerous in July, and a mountain pass that is perfect in July can be under snow in February.
Conditions change. Road closures, fire damage, storm washouts and seasonal snow closures all happen in Arizona. Check AZ511 before every mountain or remote ride. Each region also has a longer ride guide with a map: Phoenix and Scottsdale, Tucson, Northern Arizona and Route 66 and western Arizona.
Phoenix and the Valley
Roads out of Phoenix
- 1. Apache Trail to Tortilla Flat (SR 88)Why: Paved curves from Apache Junction past Canyon Lake to Tortilla Flat, a tiny old stagecoach stop with a restaurant and store. The Superstition Mountains make the backdrop. Watch for: Weekend crowds, boat trailers headed to Canyon Lake and blind curves. East of Tortilla Flat the road turns to dirt and has been closed for long stretches in recent years, so check AZ511. Best season: October to April. In Rippin': Tortilla Flat is the one approved Arizona road in the app so far.
- 2. Bush Highway and Saguaro LakeWhy: A short, flowing desert ride along the Salt River from the edge of Mesa to Saguaro Lake and the Beeline. Pair it with Usery Pass Road for an easy loop. Watch for: Summer river traffic, wild horses near the Salt River, cyclists and enforcement. Best season: October to April, or dawn in summer.
- 3. Bartlett Lake RoadWhy: Winding desert road down from the Cave Creek and Carefree area to Bartlett Lake, with saguaros all the way. A good half-day out of the north Valley. Watch for: Boat trailers and lake traffic on weekends, no services, and heat at the bottom. Best season: October to April.
- 4. Beeline Highway (SR 87) to PaysonWhy: The Valley's escape route. You climb from Fountain Hills through the Mazatzal Mountains into pine country at Payson, around 5,000 feet. Watch for: Heavy weekend traffic, especially Sunday afternoons back to the Valley, crosswinds and enforcement. Best season: Spring to fall, and it is the summer heat escape.
Tucson and Southern Arizona
Roads around Tucson
- 5. Mt Lemmon (Catalina Highway)Why: The signature Tucson ride. You climb from saguaro desert to pine forest and Summerhaven, around 8,000 feet, and it is often 20 degrees or more cooler at the top. Watch for: Lots of cyclists, enforcement, rock in the corners and closures for fire or snow. Check AZ511 first. Best season: Year-round, with summer as the heat escape and winter depending on snow.
- 6. Gates PassWhy: A short, steep pass over the Tucson Mountains west of town, with a famous sunset overlook. Loop it with Kinney Road past Saguaro National Park West. Watch for: Tight corners, the sunset crowd at the overlook and slow sightseers. Best season: October to April.
- 7. Sonoita and Patagonia (SR 83 and SR 82)Why: Rolling grassland and wine country south of Tucson, very different from the saguaro desert. A relaxed day loop. Watch for: Open range cattle, deer, and long gaps between fuel. Best season: Fall and spring.
The high country
Northern and central Arizona roads
- 8. Oak Creek Canyon (SR 89A)Why: Sedona's red rock to Flagstaff's pines in one canyon, finishing with switchbacks up to the rim. One of the most scenic rides in the state. Watch for: Heavy tourist traffic, rockfall, pedestrians near Slide Rock and closures after fire or flood. Best season: April to October.
- 9. Jerome and Mingus Mountain (SR 89A)Why: Hairpins through the old mining town of Jerome on the side of the mountain, then up and over Mingus Mountain at around 7,000 feet to Prescott Valley. Watch for: Pedestrians and parked cars in Jerome, tight hairpins and ice in cold months. Best season: April to October.
- 10. Yarnell Hill and White Spar (SR 89)Why: A real climb from the desert at Congress up Yarnell Hill, then a curvy run through the Weaver Mountains and the White Spar section into Prescott. Watch for: Trucks, deer, rockfall and the temperature drop. Best season: Spring and fall.
- 11. Mogollon Rim on SR 260Why: From Payson past Christopher Creek and up onto the Rim at over 7,000 feet, through tall pines toward Heber. Big summer escape. Watch for: Elk on the road, especially at dawn and dusk, summer weekend traffic, monsoon storms and winter snow. Best season: May to October.
Eastern Arizona
Roads worth a weekend: the east
- 12. Salt River Canyon (US 60)Why: Between Globe and Show Low, US 60 drops in switchbacks to a bridge over the Salt River and climbs back out. Huge views, real elevation change. Watch for: Trucks on the grades, gravel at pullouts and heat at the bottom. Best season: Spring and fall.
- 13. Coronado Trail (US 191)Why: From the copper mine at Morenci north into high forest near Hannagan Meadow, then on toward Alpine. Hundreds of curves and almost no traffic. Watch for: Very remote, few services, slow going, wildlife, and snow closures in the cold months. Fuel up before you start. Best season: Late spring to early fall.
Western Arizona
Route 66 and the western roads
Hualapai Mountain Road out of Kingman is the shade escape here, a climb into pines at Hualapai Mountain Park. Down south, SR 95 runs to Lake Havasu City and the London Bridge, a winter riding hub. Both are in the Route 66 and western Arizona guide.
- 14. Route 66, Seligman to KingmanWhy: The longest remaining stretch of old Route 66, through Peach Springs, Truxton, Valentine and Hackberry. Open, nostalgic miles more than curves. Watch for: Crosswinds, cattle, long gaps between fuel and summer heat. Best season: October to May.
- 15. Oatman Highway over Sitgreaves PassWhy: Route 66 from Kingman over Sitgreaves Pass in tight hairpins, down into Oatman, where burros wander the main street. Watch for: Narrow lanes, long sections with no guardrail, sightseers stopping anywhere, burros, and extreme heat in summer. Best season: October to April.
Summary
Arizona motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Apache Trail to Tortilla Flat | Phoenix | Oct to Apr |
| Bush Highway and Saguaro Lake | Phoenix | Oct to Apr |
| Bartlett Lake Road | Phoenix | Oct to Apr |
| Beeline Highway to Payson | Phoenix to the Rim | Spring to fall |
| Mt Lemmon | Tucson | Year-round, check closures |
| Gates Pass | Tucson | Oct to Apr |
| Sonoita and Patagonia | Southern Arizona | Fall and spring |
| Oak Creek Canyon | High country | Apr to Oct |
| Jerome and Mingus Mountain | High country | Apr to Oct |
| Yarnell Hill and White Spar | Central | Spring and fall |
| Mogollon Rim on SR 260 | Rim country | May to Oct |
| Salt River Canyon | East | Spring and fall |
| Coronado Trail | East | Late spring to early fall |
| Route 66, Seligman to Kingman | West | Oct to May |
| Oatman and Sitgreaves Pass | West | Oct to Apr |
Make them count
Ride Arizona's classic roads with Rippin'
Only one of these 15 roads is in Rippin' today. The rest are waiting for a rider to add them. Ride one with Rippin' recording, then open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it, it goes live with your name on it, and every rider who rides through it after that lands on its board. Read more on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads. A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. Ride these at a pace that leaves room for the gravel, the wildlife and the tourist who stops mid-corner for a photo.
Loop rides also claim turf. A loop like Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat and back is an out-and-back, but a loop over Usery Pass, along the Bush Highway and home through Fountain Hills closes, and the land inside becomes yours on the live map. Use the loop builder to plan one.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Arizona?
There's no single answer, but Mt Lemmon, Oak Creek Canyon on 89A, Jerome and Mingus Mountain, the Salt River Canyon and the Coronado Trail come up most. Pick by season: desert roads in the cool months, mountain roads in summer.
What are the best motorcycle rides near Phoenix?
The Apache Trail to Tortilla Flat, the Bush Highway past Saguaro Lake, Bartlett Lake Road, Cave Creek and Carefree, and the Beeline Highway up to Payson. See the Phoenix and Scottsdale ride guide.
Is the Apache Trail open to motorcycles?
The paved section from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat is the usual ride. East of Tortilla Flat the road turns to dirt and has been closed for long stretches, so check AZ511 before you plan past Tortilla Flat.
Is Mt Lemmon open?
It changes. The Catalina Highway can close for fire, storm damage or snow. Check AZ511 the morning you ride.
Which Arizona roads are good for newer riders?
Route 66 from Seligman to Kingman and the Sonoita and Patagonia loop are open and relaxed. Save the Oatman hairpins, Jerome and the Coronado Trail for when you're comfortable.
Can I add these Arizona roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put an Arizona classic on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these roads with it recording and add it. Your name stays on it.